Serial production of Turkish Bayraktar Kızılelma scheduled for 2024 PHOTO/VIDEO

Türkiye’s Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned combat aerial vehicle made its first joint flight with manned aircraft from the Solo Türk and Türk Yıldızları fleet of aerobatic teams within the TEKNOFEST-2023 Festival in Istanbul, making aviation history.

Serial production of the Bayraktar Kızılelma is scheduled for 2024, TRT Haber reports.

On April 25, the Bayraktar Kızılelma UAV took off from the Akıncı Training and Test Centre in Türkiye’s Çorlu district, northwestern Tekirdag province, and flew in parallel with the Bayraktar Akıncı UAV to determine how the two aircraft could coordinate and influence each other.

The Bayraktar Kızılelma UAV, as well as the Bayraktar TB3 strike UAV are capable of using short runways, including being stationed at the Turkish Navy's flagship TCG Anadolu.

Test flights of Bayraktar Kızılelma from TCG Anadolu are scheduled for 2025. The Turkish-made unmanned aircraft has a top speed of 630 km/h. The aircraft weighs up to 8.5 tons and can carry a cargo of 1.5 tons. The aircraft can perform operations in autonomous mode.

So far Baykar has successfully produced two prototypes of Bayraktar Kızılelma. Processes related to the development and production of the vehicle are continuing. The aircraft successfully passed flight and system identification tests in April.

The vehicle will successfully cope with the most difficult tasks thanks to its low radar visibility.

It is capable of conducting air-to-air combat similar to manned combat aircraft with aggressive manoeuvres, unlike unmanned aerial vehicles.

Besides, it will also provide effectiveness against air targets with domestic air-to-air munitions. Its maximum takeoff weight will be 5.5 tonnes, including a 1.5-tonne payload.

It will be equipped with AESA radar developed by Türkiye’s leading defence company Aselsan, and the UAV will be able to launch Bozdogan and Gokdogan air-to-air missiles.

The future unmanned fighter will be armed with SOM-J cruise missiles with a range of over 250 km for surface combat and Roketsan's MAM family of guided munitions for small strike operations.